How UCC Helped This Alum Build Success

One-on-one relationships with professors help students prepare for university studies.

ROSEBURG, Oregon – Cody Stone knows what success looks like. He’s watched his dad work as a successful carpenter for 35 years. He also knows that being successful today takes more than hard work—especially with the tight job market.

“You have to really stand out,” Cody said.

For him, standing out meant getting the most out of his 2016 Engineering program transfer degree from Umpqua Community College (UCC), and then following his dream to the Civil Engineering program at Oregon State University (OSU). He says UCC is the perfect place to get a taste of success.

“At UCC, one-on-one relationships with engineering professors like Clay Baumgartner are the norm,” he said. “They’ll take the time to listen and help. Where I am now, it’s survival of the fittest. Huge classrooms with hundreds of people. Falling behind in my current classes and looking to your peers or professors for a lot of attention is just not reality.”

UCC prepared Cody for the Civil Engineering Cooperative Program.

“I had such a good start there,” he said. “I was ready for the two rounds of big panel interviews including engineering and ethics questions.”

Out of the 600 applicants who apply, only 200 of the Best of the Best from OSU, Oregon Institute of Technology, Portland State, and University of Portland make it into the program. Cody is one of those “best of the bests.”

Cody returned to UCC to participate in the College’s annual Explore Event this past March. At the time, he was just about to start his first civil engineering internship with the Oregon Department of Transportation in Salem. During his studies, he will complete two internships—one in the public and one in the private sector.

“The great thing is that you get paid between $8.50 and $25.00 an hour during your internship,” he said. “And you have a 90% chance of being hired by one of the companies after you’re done.”

Both are important things for this UCC alum—who has one foot in the door and his mind set on a successful future.

About Umpqua Community College

Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities.